Advanced Placement U.S. history books used in Jefferson County (Eric Gorski, The Denver Post)

Like the typical teacher in a rural area, Jack Daly has a lot on his plate.

He teaches social studies at Hi-Plains High School in Seibert, on the Eastern Plains. He sponsors the student council and the National Honors Society, coaches track and helps out in other activities.

Daly was also among a group of Colorado educators who helped craft the state’s new social studies tests, working with the Colorado Department of Education and testing/publishing giant Pearson Inc. in the design.

The U.S. Department of Education today announced Colorado will receive $653,573 to cover all or part of the fees charged to low-income students for taking Advanced Placements tests. The grant is part of more than $21.5 million in grants awarded to 43 states nationwide.

Based on the anticipated number of test-takers and other factors, the grants under the Advanced Placement Test Fee Program are expected to pay up to $38 per Advanced Placement exam for as many as three exams per student.

“Advanced Placement participation is an important element in creating a college-going culture in our high schools,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. “AP courses help students develop the study skills, critical reasoning and habits of mind that prepare them for the transition to college. They give students — particularly first-generation college-goers — the confidence that they can successfully handle college-level work.”

By subsidizing the test fees, the program intends to encourage low-income students to take AP tests and obtain college credit for high school courses, reducing the time and cost required to complete a postsecondary degree.

Colorado Classroom provides ground-level reporting on what’s going on in the state’s public schools and on college campuses, looking at people, places, issues, trends and innovative approaches to education.